A/N: This is just my second fanfic, but I am just so in love with Fitzsimmons, and there weren't enough fics for me to read. :) Hope it's not too awful. R&R. :)

Chapter 1: Rejection

Agent Jemma Simmons smoothed down her dress for what felt like the fiftieth time and gave herself one last glance over in the mirror. She had pulled out all of the stops for this date. Her hair lay in soft curls over her shoulders. She was currently wearing her gorgeous, new, black-and-white patterned dress. Turquoise and gold bangle bracelets clanked against her wrist as she tucked her hair behind her ear (a nervous habit), revealing matching earrings. She sighed, and headed out of the bathroom, wobbling slightly from nerves and the four-inch heels she was wearing.

"Simmons! I've been looking everywhere for yo-"

At the sound of her partner's voice, Jemma smiled and turned around. "Sorry, Fitz. Fitz?"

The engineer was currently a deep shade of crimson as he stammered out, "What the hell are you wearing?"

"Is it too much? It's just that this is my first date with Robbie, and I just wanted to look nice, and now I've gone and ruined it, and I'm going to look like an idiot, and I'll just go call him and cance-" Simmons nervously rambled on.

"Simmons! What date are you even talking about?" Fitz was grateful that his brain finally seemed to re-engage itself after having been momentarily stunned by the beauty of his partner. "Who the hell is Robbie?"

"You don't remember Agent Robert Fields? Well, we're going out. Tonight." For some reason, Simmons couldn't bring herself to look her partner in the eye.

A few weeks back, the team had landed in a sticky situation in Los Angeles. Sauve, handsome, and charming Agent Robert Fields had been called in to help for the mission. After noticing the radiant biochemist, the agent had wasted no time in wooing the scientist. When Fields had gotten word that the team was returning to L.A. for the weekend at the end of the month, he had immediately called none other than Agent Jemma Simmons.

Fitz felt as though he had been punched in the kidney. Simmons? My Simmons? A date? With that idiot? His blood boiled, and Fitz could feel the jealousy gnaw at him.

Fitz's thoughts continued to crash about, and Simmons, noticing the time, gazed at her partner expectantly.

"Well, I suppose I had better be leaving. Wouldn't want Robbie to wait, or to miss our reservations. The BUS is taking off tomorrow, after all." Simmons prattled.

Pull yourself together, Leo! "Oh, yeah. Have a great time. Call me if you need anything." Fitz tried his best to sound genuinely excited, though he failed miserably. He offered up a grin that didn't meet his eyes, which Simmons returned. With that, Jemma twirled around and headed off of the plane to the waiting car.

Jemma glanced down at her watch. Again. 44 minutes and 17 seconds… 18… 19… Logically, she knew that "Robbie" wasn't coming. For some reason, though, the logic wasn't helping the tears that were threatening to spill out as she sat alone. The waiter came back again and asked if she wanted anything for the sixth time, finally allowing his annoyance to show.

"No, thank you. I'm waiting for someone." Jemma put on a brave face, but she didn't miss the waiter's glance of pity.

Simmons glanced around the restaurant. All she saw were happy couples absorbed by each other's presence in the romantic candlelight. Then, there was her. Awkward, geeky, rambling, neurotic Jemma. What was I thinking? Why would someone like Robert actually be interested in me? Finally, Jemma couldn't take it anymore. She quickly made her way out of the fancy restaurant, already calling her driver.

Feelings of rejection began to smother her, and though she had tried to do her best to keep from bursting into tears, she couldn't help the moisture running down her cheeks. I am such an idiot! From now on, I just need to stay in the lab. I'm never going to leave. Ever. No more flouncy dresses, or petty dates. It is just me and my chemistry.

Simmons was so immersed in her thoughts, she didn't even realize they had arrived back at the BUS. Thanking the driver, Jemma walked back on board and directly toward her room. As soon as she reached her room, Jemma burst into tears and sank to the floor. Sobs wracked her body, and all of her fortitude dissolved into a puddle on the floor.

Finally, Simmons calmed down. She shakily stood up and began to wash her face, when she heard a knock and a soft "Jemma?" at the door. Fitz.

Simmons attempted to straighten her dress out, plastering on a smile as she opened the door.